Doctors hopeful about tower

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - June 20, 2008

Physicians are cautiously optimistic that upgrades at Vernon Jubilee Hospital will address long-term care health care needs. In a statement issued to The Morning Star, medical staff state that they are now aware of attempts by the Interior Health Authority to have two shelled-in floors added on to the diagnostic and treatment tower. “This would allow us the physical space to address this need,” said Dr. Chris Cunningham, medical staff president. Doctors have suggested in the past that current plans for the tower will do little to address the needs of a growing region, including the lack of new acute care beds and an MRI machine. Currently, IHA is negotiating with the Ministry of Health and the regional hospital district to fund the two extra floors. If that occurs, only the rough outline of floors would be done, with completion only proceeding when dollars exist. “With support from the government, we are optimistic that we could fill this space operationally,” said Cunningham in the statement. “We need to continue to work towards acquiring this support from this government, however. We owe this to our patients and this North Okanagan population. With the news of this additional space, we are optimistic and support the planning process of this new patient care tower at VJH to be opened in 2010.”

IHA officials welcome the physicians’ stance on the tower. “We’ve always had the sense that the physicians support the services going into the tower and their concern was about additional in-patient resources,” said Joanne Konnert, chief operating officer. It’s hoped that IHA will have a commitment from the ministry and the hospital district this fall on possibly funding two additional shelled-in floors. As for the dollars needed to complete those floors and open new acute care beds, Konnert says that issue is a few years away from being resolved. “If they are shelled in, it doesn’t take much to finish the floors,” said Konnert. Recently, the Vernon Taxpayers Association launched a petition campaign demanding improved resources at VJH. It collected more than 18,000 names. “The taxpayers association has been instrumental to us, in allowing the North Okanagan population to voice their concerns regarding the need to have the government adequately support acute care services and beds at VJH,” said Cunningham.